Odisha Vigilance Cracks Down on Corruption: Four Officials Arrested for Embezzling Over ₹20 Lakh

In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Odisha vigilance has arrested four government officials for allegedly embezzling over ₹20 lakh intended for public projects. The officials were found guilty of financial misconduct related to the non-excavation of farm ponds under the MGNREGA scheme in Rayagada district. Additionally, an assistant sub-inspector was caught accepting a bribe, leading to further investigations. This article delves into the details of these cases and the ongoing efforts to combat corruption in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 22, 2025, 15:40 IST

Corruption Uncovered in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: On Thursday, the Odisha vigilance team apprehended four government officials accused of misappropriating over ₹20 lakh in public funds.

The investigation was prompted by allegations of financial misconduct related to the non-excavation of farm ponds under the MGNREGA scheme in the Kashipur block of Rayagada district. Officials discovered that these individuals were involved in significant financial irregularities.

Among those arrested were an assistant project director, two overseers of soil conservation, and a soil conservation extension worker, all of whom are stationed at the project director's office in Rayagada. They were implicated in the embezzlement of funds intended for the excavation of 23 farm ponds across various villages in the Kashipur area.

It was revealed that the accused had diverted funds into the accounts of laborers holding job cards, subsequently withdrawing the money. The transactions are currently under scrutiny.

A case has been filed at the Koraput vigilance police station against the arrested officials, and further investigations are ongoing.

In a related incident, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) from the Tigiria police station in Cuttack district was caught accepting a bribe of ₹5,000 from a complainant to settle a dispute with another villager. Following this, simultaneous searches were conducted at three locations associated with the ASI, according to vigilance sources.